Author: Pat D

We have the company of my daughter Amy and our grandson Schooner (our nickname for him) this week which has been delightful. Amy works as an educator at the zoo in her hometown so a trip to the zoo with them seemed a natural choice. The drive to Franklin Park Zoo took maybe an hour so it’s definitely do-able. Though it was a little rainy that day, our luck took a turn when we were told it was opening day for their new outdoor gorilla exhibit! The family was out and about seemingly showing off.

The Zoo is a great take for families and children. Some exhibits are not yet open as they are waiting for a warm-up, but we were easily able to entertain ourselves for quite a while. I bought tickets online ahead and it was very convenient. Link here. I would put it on the consideration list for vacation activities. No, Amy will not be available as a tour guide……..

The fog always add an interesting mood to the day. And sometimes it can appear to look very different from another angle. Buswell Pond is a good example. I give it an eye nearly every day to evaluate its “mood”.

Yes, you DO want to see CODA on the big screen (in case you were wondering). Even if you have already streamed it, it’s a different show on the big screen. If you have company in town, they REALLY need to see CODA while they are here. That is also a special part of the experience. Gloucester Cinema on Essex Ave sells tickets online and they will be available through April 21. It’s a no-brainer.

From the Gloucester Cinema Facebook page:

I was happy to see the opening date of April 30 announced for the wonderful Atlantis Oceanfront Inn Breakfast cafe! It’s a great take on breakfast on the back shore.

From their Facebook page:

Wildlife was abundant on a drive around town a few days ago. I had not seen the seals lately in Brace Cove, but on this day, I counted 11. When I got home, I found a least 2 more hidden in the photos. They seemed very happy. The turtles were also sunning themselves and egrets were busy on the hunt. Must be winter has left town and spring has arrived!

It was a gorgeous day at Wingaersheek Beach recently, perfect for families and treasure hunters!

I took my (new!) camera out for some experimentation on a beautiful day recently. There’s lots to learn, but I see lots of potential in this new equipment.

We skirted the Essex bridge traffic and landed at Ripple on the Water for lunch recently and it was outstanding! Again….! I have said it before but it bears repeating as the spring and summer season approaches….excellent food and service at Ripple on the Water on Main St. in Essex. Shout out to our server Hillary, Rachel and Michelle. Jim had the clam chowder and shrimp tacos. I had something new for me: pig wings and they were amazing! I’ll be getting those again for sure. A key lime tart for dessert just made a great meal even better. I usually do not get dessert, but Michelle makes them too tempting to resist. Thanks, Ripple!

There was a turn of events in the story of the West Gloucester eagles last week you may be interested in. There is a nest in the area and I am pretty sure there are eggs in it since there’s ALWAYS an eagle in there indicating typical nesting behavior. So we can expect to see two eagles within sight of the nest. I should have realized this myself. Yet, I found myself surprised to notice bands on one of the eagles but no bands on another. Each of them were on watch in trees near the nesting area. The banded eagle may have a band on each leg which could prove enlightening someday for researchers. In the meantime, let’s hope for viable eggs and chicks in West Gloucester!

These are example of each of the eagles: the banded one in the sun, the other on a cloudier day:

We love to wander around our friend (and fellow GMG contributor) David Cox’s antique store at 124 Main St. There are treasures and surprises everywhere! It’s a delightful stop on Main. I like to follow them on Instagram for the pictures. It’s also a small window into Gloucester’s past worth the trip.

According to the sign in the window, Surfside Pizza and Subs is scheduled to open April 14!

Watched these vessels leave our harbor recently including the Paxton Leigh and Isla & Alanea along with a Coast Guard vessel. Such a hopeful sign of spring and summer!

From the MassDOT Twitter account regarding Blynman Bridge traffic.

Only one week remaining before we can return to Lobsta Land on Causeway Street! We are looking forward to a visit early in the season. They are hosting a giveaway on Facebook if you are interested.

Two important recent updates from the City of Gloucester Facebook page. The bridge repair is currently causing traffic issues for vehicles in area of Blynman Bridge. FYI on beach stickers too.

I visited the newly organized Pastaio Via Corta on Main Street recently and continue to be amazed by the variety of goods offered. All great quality to bring the taste of Italy right into your home! Chef and Proprietor Danielle Glantz shared some recent photos of the inside for us to share. Follow them on Facebook or use their website for updates. The sugo and pasta were amazing.

I had some time to kill over the weekend, so I took a little walk around the Railways to see what was new. I noticed some of our Wicked Tuna friends spiffing and polishing up their vessels as well as the Schooner Adventure getting some work done. Always interesting though I am careful not to go down during normal work hours.

The 1950 federal census was released to the public last week after its mandatory 72 year old embargo. It is providing historians, genealogists and the general public an intriguing peek into post WWII life. Here are some samples from Gloucester with some familiar family names. These are families living in the Fort Square area of Gloucester in 1950. Fishing is the predominant industry which may seem obvious, but it’s still neat to see the varieties of occupations within that industry.

If your name fell on a certain line within the census, you were asked additional questions including where your parents were born. In this example, nearly all parents were reported to have been born in Italy. Also seemingly obvious but verification is soothing.

Sometimes you find special notes such as the one you see here that 2 men at a particular address could not be reached for response as they were out fishing and no one knew anything about them or their return (or the neighbors just kept their lips zipped). These records are currently being indexed but are now available for browsing at this Archives link. Enjoy these image examples and your own browsing!

Moody scene at Little River Landing this week.

We happened to be on the Boulevard when we heard the warning bells that the bridge was going up. It was our first outgoing boat parade of the season: Lyndon Johnson, Newfie Star and Hurricane Indie! And so it continues………